In Johan Renck’s sci-fi drama Spaceman, viewers are taken on a journey to the edge of the solar system alongside Jakub Procházka, a Czech astronaut played by an exceptionally restrained Adam Sandler.
Directed by Renck and adapted for the screen by Colby Day, the film is based on Jaroslav Kalfař’s novel Spaceman of Bohemia. Alongside Sandler, the star-studded cast includes Carey Mulligan, Kunal Nayyar, Isabella Rossellini, and Paul Dano, who voices the alien arachnid Hanuš.
The premise of the film revolves around Jakub, who sets on a mission to collect mysterious stardust from a stretch of purple-blue cloud that has appeared over Earth four years prior to the start of the story. As his earthly life lies in shambles and his mental health begins to crumble, he finds solace in the company of a peculiar extraterrestrial creature who comes aboard his ship one fine night.
Much of the film is spent with Hanuš—whether a schizophrenic manifestation of Jakub’s loneliness or a real giant spider—playing therapist to a broken and isolated Jakub. But as the film rushes towards the glittery stardust, Jakub is forced to tend to his wounds—the self-inflicted as well as the kinds meted out by others. If you didn’t understand what exactly happened in these last few moments, you can check out our review of Spaceman, and for an ending explainer, read on.
What happens at the end of Spaceman?
Towards the end of the film, Hanuš confesses to Jakub that he was too late in escaping his home planet before the Gorompeds destroyed everything. Hanuš has been infected, and he admits that his final moments are near. Shortly after, the spaceship enters the mysterious Chopra cloud, which Hanuš explains is made of material that was at the very beginning of time and contains everything from inception to the end.
After a hasty farewell, Hanuš leaves the ship just as several malfunctions start to occur. Despite his liaison on Earth, Nayyar’s Peter, urging him to abandon the mission, Jakub decides to go after Hanuš, not yet ready to let him go.
Jakub acknowledges his fear of what lies beyond him, but Hanuš assures him that there is still hope. As Hanuš disintegrates, seemingly consumed by the Gorompeds, Jakub finds himself drifting into space, looking at peace finally. Back on Earth, we see Lenka driving back to their home. She seems to have forgiven Jakub for abandoning her emotionally and physically long before he left for his mission after his heartfelt apology sent through Peter.
The final scenes show Jakub aboard a different spaceship, rescued by the Korean spacecraft that is mentioned as being close behind him as he raced towards the Chopra cloud. Lenka and Jakub are seen reconnecting over the phone after her refusal to speak with him for weeks. Jakub expresses gratitude and regret to Lenka, telling her he would never have left if he had understood how he had taken Lenka for granted all along. Their poignant exchange hangs with a promise of their reconciliation.
You can watch Spaceman on Netflix and catch the trailer here:
